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Only Vista on arrival for Maldives and Singapore, Others need to get electronic visa (e-visa)………

Good move, let’s keep trouble makers out…..

Max I disagree , this is a deterrant to would be tourists to Sri Lanka , if it is an exercise in collecting $$$ from VISA's then why not pay upon arrival like Indonesia , if we are to grow tourism to Sri Lanka , we need to make as straight forward as possible .........

Max I disagree , this is a deterrant to would be tourists to Sri Lanka , if it is an exercise in collecting $$$ from VISA's then why not pay upon arrival like Indonesia , if we are to grow tourism to Sri Lanka , we need to make as straight forward as possible .........

I have a serious doubt about the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. Today is Sep 28th and still the website is not active (at least no banner on front page to show "coming soon".) In the Department of Immigration website - no any new news except an old news item about the upcoming system. Other than news media; there should be some information on the system , specifically the transition period. For example if someone is flying to SL on Oct 01, - what will happen????

Oct 18, 2011 (LBO) - Sri Lanka Saturday launched hot air ballooning over Colombo with daily flights scheduled from November as part of plans to boost leisure activities in the city and attract both local and foreign tourists

DUBAI // Tourists will not be able to take advantage of Sri Lanka's lax visa laws after next month, when a rule requiring travellers to apply and pay for visas in advance comes into effect.

Officials said the revenue raised from travel visas - previously issued at no cost to nationals of some countries - would be used to revive the economy of the war-ravaged country.

"Earlier visas were issued free on arrival," said Abdul Raheem, the Sri Lankan consul general in Dubai.

"There was a conflict in the country and we wanted to encourage tourists to come. But now the country is stable and the problems are over. We want to reinvest the revenue for tourism," he said.

The new Electronic Travel Authorisation system requires tourists and business travellers to apply online before their departure from January 1.

"Within 24 hours, they can get the acknowledgement and travel," he said.

Previously, nationals from 78 countries were granted free visas on arrival. Others were charged between Dh5 and Dh280. Under the revised rules, only citizens of Singapore and the Maldives can obtain free visas on arrival.

Travel documents for a month can cost between US$10 (Dh36) and $25, depending on the nationality and purpose of the visit.

Travellers can also obtain visas at a consulate, but will be charged an administrative fee of between Dh5 and Dh100.

Emiratis will have to pay the highest amount based on reciprocity, as Sri Lankan nationals coming to the UAE for visits are charged US$250 (Dh918).

Transit visas for two days and travellers under 12 years of age will be allowed to enter the country at no cost.

John Podaras, a British resident, said though the move was a "minor inconvenience", it could have a negative perception.

"Any kind of bureaucracy at the border is seen as a negative step. But, ultimately one has to balance these considerations," he said, adding that the change could effect tourists making a choice between Sri Lanka and other destinations.

However, a travel agent said serious travellers would not be deterred.

"A small segment may think this is an inconvenience," said Premjit Bangara, general manager of Sharaf Travel.

"But serious travellers do not mind paying," he said, adding that the online process would facilitate quicker entry into the country.

Mr Bangara said Sri Lanka was moving in the right direction with the civil war behind them.

"The economy was booming before the war. But, once political issues came up, everything went south. Most tourism boards offer sops during periods of lull to stimulate tourism," he said, adding the income from issuing visas could contribute to Sri Lanka's economy in a small way.

27 December 2011 COLOMBO - A record number of tourists visited Sri Lanka this year with the 800,000th visitor for 2011 arriving from London recently, marking a milestone in the country’s tourism records.
“This is the first time ever; the tourism industry has received number of arrivals exceeding 800,000 in any given year,” said a tourism statement. According to Sri Lanka Tourism, the country’s official tourism body, the total number of tourists visiting the country last year was 654,476, and this year’s growth has jumped by 33.1 per cent .

After 28 years of internal conflict that ended in 2009, Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the hottest tourism destinations in the region. Launching its campaign “Refreshingly Sri Lanka – Visit 2011”, at the beginning of this year, Lanka has marketed its location, natural resources along with its new-found freedom promoting eight segments and experiences tourists can experience in eight days. This year the most number of tourists arrived from neighbouring India followed by visitors from the Middle East, Japan, Germany, UK, France, the Netherlands and Italy.

A five-year strategic development plan has been launched for the tourism sector by Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa promoting diversity, compactness and authenticity of the island.

“During this five-year period the country targets to attract $3,000 million worth Foreign Direct investment (FDI) from tourism sector most of which will be invested in tourism infrastructure development. There will be an increase in the foreign exchange earnings from $500 million in 2010 to $2.75 billion by the year 2016. A huge increase is expected in the tourism related employment from 125,000 in 2010 to 500,000 by 2016,” said Sri Lanka Tourism.

The government plans to achieve the target number of 2.5 million tourists by 2016 and expects the tourism industry to take a leap in the next five years.

Sri Lanka is the second most attractive tourist destination in the world, Colombo University senior lecturer Dr Suranga Silva said.

“Tourist arrivals has increased by 40 percent while the income from tourism has increased by 50 percent,” Dr Silva said delivering a lecture on 'Challengers and subscription of tourism to social and economic development in Sri Lanka' at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institution.

The programme was jointly sponsored by the Informationa Department and the Sri Lanka Foundation Institution.

“ There is no industry in Sri Lanka with such a high growth as tourism, which is connected with almost every sector. Everybody in the country profits from tourism. If promoted in a proper way, a country can benefit positively,” he said.

“On the other hand, if projected in a negative way, tourism can destroy the country,” Dr Silva said.

“One individual’s annual consumption of chicken in Sri Lanka is only three kilogrammes. However this is 30kgs in Malaysia. This means due to tourism, production of food can increase significantly,” he said.

Sri Lanka earns over Rs.1.2 billion from online visa approval system this year

Aug 13, Colombo: Sri Lanka's online visa approval system introduced at the beginning of this year has brought in record revenue to the government to the tune of billions of rupees, the government has said.

In the first seven months of the year the government has earned over Rs. 1.2 billion through the on line visa approval system, the Controller General of the Immigration and Emigration Chulananda Perera has said.

Sri Lanka introduced the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system on January 01 to grant prior approval for visa via online for foreign nationals from 78 countries except for visitors from Singapore and Maldives, the two countries that reciprocate the on-arrival visa system with Sri Lanka.

According to Perera the ETA has become very popular with visitors to the country.

"We have received very positive responses from a large number of foreigners about the system. The quick approval process, technology, easy to use and the long list of convenient features have earned the praise of visitors," Perera has told the state-run newspaper Daily News.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA), in the first six months of this year, 452,867 tourists have arrived in the country.

The country expects to reach a target of one million tourist arrivals this year and revenues of US$ 1 billion.